having low income people, poor people with disabilities, in the street without enough to eat, with no adequate health care, you know, struggling to get by even worse than they are now. so that's -- this is a choice. the question is not is it good or is it bad. it's is it bad compared to what. it's worse -- this alternative going past the deadline is worse than -- may be worse than what will happen to americans with disabilities and our older americans if i don't stand firm and fight for them at this time. >> we know where the liberals don't want the cuts to come from, congressman. what is the alternative here? what cuts would you make to get a deal with the republicans? i know the caucus has suggested some specific defense-related cuts, but there are not enough to get to the magic number, are they? >> well, the magic number is also a myth. what are we actually aiming for? what we need is a sustainable ratio between our nation's gdp and its deficit. that's what we need. to try to slam the brakes right now and get to balance tomorrow is not desirable. economists will come on your show a